Feb inflation slows sharply to 0.9% as oil prices remain low

INFLATION in February decelerated to 0.9 percent from 2.5 percent a year earlier and 1.3 percent in January as oil prices remained low, data released by the central bank on Friday showed.

The new figure stands at the low end of the 0.9 percent to 1.7 percent range expected by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), but falls below the forecast range of 1.1 – 1.4 percent by analysts polled by The Manila Times and the 1.4 percent estimate by the Department of Finance. MAYVELIN CARABALLO